o connor



J. F'. OCONNORTl MEcHANlsM FoR RECORDING ACTIONS or DRAFT GEARs.

' APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 5. 1916. 1,303,948.

mmv mm1. R.r.

W1 TNEs'sEs.-

J. F. O'CONNOR.A

MECHANISM FOR RECORDING ACTIONS OF DRAFT SEARS.

APPLICATION I ILED SEPT. 5- 1916K mm L R. 0,m ma w 2 IIIIIJ ma. m m ...1. 4/ I l le I. N m 6. um w .9 Q5 m om, N Q Q .Q m 0 m T. 1

fue mmm: Fam-ns co.. Nom-Limo.. wnsumcnm. n. c.

W I TNESSES:

J. F. OCONNOR.

MECHANISM FOR RECORDING ACTIONS 0F DRAFT GEARS. APPLICATION FILI-:D SEPT. 5. 191e.

Patented May 20, 1919.

mr Non Perses cuA. Puowumo.. wswmcmrv, n c.

I s Q 8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IN VEN TOR.

Kga/1 TToRNEY I. F. o'coImoR.v MECHANISM FOR RECORDING ACTIONS 0F DRAFT GEARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. I9I6. I 1,303,948. Patented May 20, 1919.

- INVENTOR. Ja/v/Fzmf/ar H @www TToRN Y WITNESSES:

ms :wams mens cu.. Puamuruo. wasnuva um. u. c.

J. F. OCONNOR.

MEcHANlsM Fon RECORDING AcnoNs oF DRAFT GEARs.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. 1916.

Patented May 20, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

W I TNESSES:

Aww TToRNEY mr: vnwms psrsns ca.4 pnomirma.. wAsmNcmN. u c

1 F. OCONNOR. Y

i MEcHRNlsM FoR RECORDING AcloNs or DRAFT GEARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-5.1916.

Patented May 20, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

JNVENTOR. J/m/Z Qmzar w 1 'ATTORNEY l W1 TNESSES:

JOHN F. ocoivivon., or cnr-osso, inniiioisnssieivon ,Tpo WILLIAM'H. MINER, or

Y .tN-Eiif'YoRK.

1n srarns PATENT onirica.

CHAZY,

MncHAivisivi Fon, RECORDING Acriioivs oF DRAFT-cunas.

Application fiied september 5, 191e. 4sei-iai No. 118,412;

T0 all lwhom/t may concern.' v

Be it known that I, JoiiN F. OCONNOR, a CitiZen of the United States, residing at Chicago, iii the county of Cook and State'of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement, in Mechanism forRecording Actions of Draft-Gears, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being` had to "the: accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. j t.

This invention relates to improvements iii mechanism for recording actions of draft gears. One object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for recording the actioiis'of draft rigging's of railway cars, which mechanism is so arranged as to simulate as much as possible, `the actual conditions encoun-A tered inthe operation of draft riggings of cars in service.` Another object of the invention is to pro'- vide a mechanism of the character described which is so arranged that variations may be made in the conditions under which the records are made, to thus initiate the. differV eiitconditions encountered in actual service. The invention furthermore consists in the improvements in the parts and devices and in the novel combinations ofthe parts and devices herein shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing forming apart of this. specification, Figures 1 and 1a together con-Y stitute a side elevation of a mechanism ein` bodying my invention. Figs. Q and 2 together constitute atop plan view of the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 1? ex" cept that the cars and portions of rthe ca r lifting means are omitted. Fig'. 3 isa vertical, transverse section taken on the line 3-3 the scales for weighing one of the cars.V Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, vertical 'section taken substantially centrally of the test cars and illustrating more particularly the draft gears. Fig. 5 is fa. vertical enlarged sec# tional viewof the means for clutching one endV of the test car and for elevating the same. And Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the structure illustratedin Fig; 5 and taken substantially Onthe linegGV-G of the latter.

Broadly stated, the improved mechanism embodies a test car supported yto swing and adapted to be elevated't'o different heights Specification of Letters Patent.

i located.

"it may be raised andlowered and always Patented May 20, 191,9.

before being released to thereby vary the blows or impacts of the test car on another y j' car, the two cars lbeing provided with draft v gearsto absorb the blows andhaving asso' ciated recording mechanism for making a record of the action.

In the drawing-A designates a ktest car-jA of theg'ondola type, the same being mount-I L ed on trucks in `usual manner, the axles.. ofV

ter in turn being each secured at their upper fr ends to another journal box 12, the journal boxes l2 being mounted on transversely extending axles 13. Theiaxles 1f3'are mounted Y f insuitable bearings. 14 carried the super-V structure of a frame-Work orhousing within which the various lparts of mechanism are Said frame-work or housing is' preferably Vbuilt up of "commercial plates i and has a plurality of posts 15.15, upper horizontal side beams 163-16, transverse beams' 17-,17v and diagonal bracing angles 18-18, all the plates and angles being lsuit- 1 f ably connected by gussets. The posts of the- Y frame-,work or housing are provided with'"- suitable concrete or other foundations and a' pit is also formed, extending longitudil nally of the housing at the'bottom thereof,

as indicatedV at l19 in Fig. 3.', This pit is f provided to accommodate platformfcar scalesQO-QO, which may 'be of any suitable vor well known form and 'having Va lever 120.

from' which extends a rod 21, the latter bef ing connected to a. balancing beam .,(not` shown).

By employing the scales above I mentioned, the'iweight .of the'car plus any* fload which may be placed thereincan be deof Fig. 1 and illustrating more particularly terminedat any time. In practice, the car. will preferably be loaded so that the weight .of the load and .car will approximate 150,000 lfbs. n Ordinarily, the test car A'does not rest' on the rails of the'scale platform,

vbut meansare provided for loweringthe can on to the scales in order to Obtainthe' From the preceding description, it isy ap;

.viens-that. the effective Vlengths of the'linksf` v11 can be varied as desired. Y

parent that the Vtest carA is so mounted that l.

maintained in a horizontal position. dotted lines in Figs. 1 and. 1a indicate the position of the test car A when the same has been raised. Y

In order to raise t-he test car A, the same is provided at its inner end with a rigidly attached casting The casting 23 is provided with a pair of spaced slots 24-24 within which are adapted to be received a pair of' links 25-25, the latter being pivotally connected to the casting 23 as by means of a heavy pin 26. The links 25, at their freel ends,are connected by another heavy pin 27 which is adapted to be gripped by a pair of jaws about to be described. Pivotally mounted upon the super-structure of the frame-work in a similar manner to that of the test car by links 28-28, is a casting 29. The latter carries an electromagnet 30 located as clearly indicated in Fig. 5.. The casting 29 is also provided with a relatively fixed jaw 31 having a semi-circular recess 32 within which is adapted to be received said pin 27. Pivotally mounted on the casting 29' is a second jaw member 33 having also a semi-circular recess 34 disposed opposite the recess 32and adapted to engage said pin 27 on the top thereof. The jaw member 33is pivoted as indicated at 35 and its inner end is enlarged as indicated at 36, which portion 36 acts as an armature to the magnet 30. The armature 36 is provided with a laterally eX- n tending operating handle 37, the latter working in a suitable slot 38 inone of the side walls of the 'casting 29. When the casting 29 is in its lowermost position, as indicated in full lines in Fig. la, it is apparent that the relatively fixed jaw member 31 will engage the pin 27. If now the jaw member 33 is moved by the handle 37, it also will engage the pin 27 and said jaw member will be held in its elevated position (shown in full lines in Fig. 5), by the magnet 30, assuming that the current is on. Hence it will be seen, that, if the casting 29 is elevated, the test car A will also be elevated.y This may be accomplished by any suitable means, but prefer- Y ably I employ a plurality of sheaves 39 mounted on a cross shaft 40 carried by the'v casting 29 andV a plurality of sheaves 41 car- ,l ried by a cross kshaft 42 mounted on the top of the frame work. A cable 43 is run over said sheaves 39 and 41, the cable being passed around a floating pulley or wheel 44 near the lower portion of the framework and finally onto a winding drum 45 which may be operated by a suitable motor 46, through proper reduction gearing 47. By winding up the cable 43, it is apparent that the casting 29, together with the test :car A, may be elevated to the position indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 1a. If nowy the current is shut off from the electromagnetv30, it is apparent that the pivoted jaw member 33 will-be released, thus disengaging the pin 27 and perleased, I have provided a spring 48, the Y spring having a follower or cap 49 (see Fig. 5). By referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the cars A and B are each provided at their adjacent ends with a shock absorbing mechanism S and a dummy coupler C. When the cars A and B are in horizontal alinement, that is, when they first come together, the couplers C-C will be in alinement and engagement, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. Each of the cars A and B is provided with an arm 50, one on one side and the other on the opposite side, said arms 50 being rigid with the respective cars by which they are carried. Each of said arms 50 is adapted to engage a rod 51 attached to a reciprocating block or cross head which carries a pencil adapted to make a record on a revolving cylinder. The recording mecha.- nism above referred to is merely indicated diagrammatically inasmuch as I have fully described the same in my pending application .38,111 filed July 6, 1915 for improve ment in means for recording actions of railway draft gears, and do not deem it necessary to enter into a detailed description thereof in this application.

The recording mechanism above mentioned is adapt-ed tomake a record'such as shown in said application 38,111 and said record may be read by means of the indicator described and claimed in my pending application 60687 filed November 10, 1915 for improvement in indicators. It is obvious that the recording device associated with the test car A will indicate the deceleration of the latter and the recording device associated with the car B will indicate the acceleration of the latter when the test car A impinges against the car B. f

From the preceding description, it will be obvious that variations may be made in the weight .of the test car and the height to vso which it is elevated, to thus simulatedifferent conditions encounteredin actual service.

Vthe distance through which it falIs, it is obvious that the blow can be readily calculated. Y Knowing this, and having the record made when the cars come together, which shows the rates of deceleration and acceleration of the cars A and B respectively, the performance of the gears S, S which are being tested, can be determined.

I have herein shown andv described what I now consider the preferred means of carrying out myinvention, but the same Vismerely illustrative and I contemplate all 'changes and modifications thatcome within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Iclaim:. Y. ,4 y

1. In a testing mechanism of thecharacter described, the combination with a framework, of means for. normally swingingly supporting a car therefrom, said means being adjustable in length whereby the Car may be lowered onto weighing scales, weighing scales associated with said framework by which said car may be weighed, and means for elevating said car while sustained by said'supporting means.

.2. In a testing mechanism of the character described, the combination with a swingingly mounted member arranged to carry at oneend .thereof a compressible gear to be tested, of a second member normally stationary and also arranged to carry atV the end adjacent the iirst named member, another compressible gear, the second named member being mounted so as to permit acceleration thereof when struck by the lirst named member, and means for elevating and releasingfthe .lirst named member from its elevated position to thereby permit it to fall under the influence of gravity and strike the second named member.

3. In a testing mechanism of the character described, the combination with a swingingly mounted car arranged to carry a gear `at one end thereof, of a second car mounted on a track and also adapted to carry another gear at the end adjacent the lirst named gear, said second named car being free to move on said track when struck by the irst named car, and means for raising the first named car to an elevated position and to-release the same to thereby strike the second named car and accelerate the latter.

4. In a testing mechanism of the character described, the combination with a swing.- ingly mounted member adapted to be loaded, of means for elevating said member, said means including a-"swingingly mounted element having a device thereon for temporarily clutching the swingingly mounted Amember, said device being releasable to thereby permit the swingingly mounted member to fall under the influence of gravity.

5. In a testing mechanism of the character described, the combination with a car swingingly carried by a plurality of supporting links, of means for elevating said car, said means including an element pivotally mounted similarly to the car, whereby both said element and the car swing always in horizontal alinement, said element being provided with devices for temporarily clutching a portion of the car while the latter is being elevated, said device being releasable to thereby permit the car to fall in the manner of a pendulum under the influence of gravity.

6. In a testing mechanism of the character described, the combination with a Jrramework, of a plurality of links pivotally sus-- pended from the top 4of said frame-work, a car pivotally supported from the bottom of said links wherebythe car is adapted to swing always in a. horizontal position, and means for elevating'said car, said means including an element pivotally suspended from the top ofusaid frame-work and arranged to swing in the same manner asvsaid car, said element being provided with devices for temporarily clutching the car during the operation of elevating the latter.

7. In a testing mechanism of the character described,fthe combination with a track, a car on said track, the car being provided withl a shock absorbing gear, a frame-work, a `test car pivotally suspended from said frame-work and adapted to swing in a vcrtical planey in alineinent with the car onthe track and to impiiige against the latter,said test car being provided also with a shock absorbinggear. arranged to co-act with the gear on the first named car, and means for elevating the test car and releasing it so as to fall and impinge against the car on the track. v

8. AIn a testing mechanism ofthe character described, the combination with a framework, of a plurality of links pivotally supported at theirtops from said frame-work, a car supported from the bottoms of said links, the car being normally free to swing in the manner of a pendulum in a vertical plane, scales located at the bottom of said frame-work and normally out of engagement rwith said car, and means for lowering the rcar to engageY said scales,-where'by the weight of thecar may be determined.

9. In a testing mechanism of the character described, the combination with a framework, of a car pivotally supported from said frame-work, scales located beneath the car but normally'y out of engagement therewith, means for lowering the car to thereby permit it to engage said scales, and means Fior-elevating the car and release it from its ter described, the combination with a frame work, of a car pivotally supported from said frame work, and means for elevating said car, said means including an element pivotally supported from the frame-work,

said element being provided with a pair of jaws adapted to clutch a member on the car, an electromagnet carried by said element, one of said jaws co-actingwith said electromagnet to maintain the jaws in closed p0- sition, and a winding drum and cable for elevating said element.

12. In a testing mechanism of the character described, the combination with a track, of a car mounted on said track, said car having a gear at one end thereof, a framework, a second car pivotally supported from said frame work and adapted to swing in a vertical plane in alinement with first named car, the pivotally supported car being provided also with a gear at the end adjacent the car on the track, means for elevating the pivotally mounted car, and recording mech; anism arranged to be yactuated by portions of said cars at the instant lof impact one upon the other.

13. In a testing mechanism of the character described7 the combination with a car mounted to swing in the manner of a pendulum and having a gear to be tested at one end thereof, a second car normally stationary and located in the plane of movement of the swinging-ly mounted car and having also a gear to co-act with the gear o-n the swingingly mounted car when the latter impinges against the normally stationary car, and

' means for recording the deceleration of one car and the acceleration of the other car when the two cars come together.

14E. In a testing mechanism of the character described, the combina-tion with a member pivotally Vmounted toswing in the manner of a pendulum in a vertical plane, said Amember b eing provided-with a gear to beV tested, of a second member normally stationary, but adapted to be accelerated when given a blo-w by the swingingly mounted member, means for moving the swingingly Copies of this patent may be obtained for work, of a car pivotally suspended from said frame-work, the car` being Vadapted to r -V ceive loads of varying weight, a gear to be tested carried by said car, means for moving said car to an elevated position and releasing the same so as to fall under the iniiuence of gravity, a second car mounted on a track adjacent said frame-work and in the line of movement of the swingingly mounted car,

and recording means arranged to be actu-A ated at the instant of impact ofthe swingingly mounted car against the other car.

16. In a testing mechanism of the character describe-d, the combination with a framework, of a car pivotally suspended from said frame-work, the car being adapted to rece-ive loads of varying weight, a gear to be tested carried by said car, means for moving said i car to an elevated position and releasing the same so as to fall under the influence of gravity, a second car mounted 'on a track adjacent said frame-work and in the line of movement of the swin-gingly mounted car,

and recording means ar 1anged -to be actu-VV ated at the instant of imp-act of the swingi ingly mounted car against the other car, and

scales for weighing the swingingly mounted car.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of August, 1916.

JOHN F. OCONN OR.

iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

